A few words on the Camaro...interior-wise...

[GatorBlue371]

Originally Posted by stovt001

It doesn't even need 350+ hp, at least not in the non V series. Real carbon fiber would probably have to be saved for the V-series as well (look at the M3's roof). Alpha would be precisely a 3 series, C class, A4, G37, IS competitor.

300-350 hp is easy with a V6 twin turbo. This is a 335i fighter, aka non V-Series. The use of Carbon fiber is optional, maybe an upgraded trim level.


Look at how well this interior is laid out. Very clean, effective, expensive looking. This is the cheapest car BMW makes.

[RobH]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

OMG, all this talk about how soft a dash is going to be is ridiculous.

Lol. I agree. I don't think I've touched my dash once yet. I probably won't until I clean the interior. The things some people get worked up about.

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

To be fair...the car they were comparing it to when they said "premium" is the '09 and down GT. In that respect, wouldn't you agree that it is a premium product?...imo, it wipes the road with that Mustang....but the 2010 model countered well.

Let the competition continue!

However even the 2009 GT's had the option for a NAV screen which makes it more versatile.. THe 2010 takes it a step further and is a solid design. My biggest gripe with the interior of the Camaro is the radio since I have always upgraded to a higher quality system.. However I chose to order the Boston Acoustics and leave it stock because of this inability to upgrade.. I may add a subwoofer if I feel the bass is insufficient but probably won't even bother to do that. Either way the Camaro interior is nice and it will grow on me in time and my primary reason for me getting the Camaro is its exterior looks anyways and baseline power for the price.

[stovt001]

Originally Posted by RobH

Lol. I agree. I don't think I've touched my dash once yet. I probably won't until I clean the interior. The things some people get worked up about.

I spoke with my wife about this. We agreed that in general, soft touch plastics:
1. Look better
2. Give the impression of higher quality
3. Feel better
4. Have fewer squeaks and rattles

Now, some caveats. Notice I said in general. Points 1 and 2 - For the most part, there is a correlation between plastic hardness and shininess, poor texture, and just a generally cheap look. The Camaro's dash isn't overly shiny, but it is more so than the Mustang's dash. The texture is pretty good, but a little stereotypical hard plastic texture. It is the step in the right direction, but not the best texture in the class. Now that said, when you look at it, it still looks like quality material, looks decent and it is indeed durable as well, so ultimately it does pass this test, but not as best in class. Point 3. Agreed, this is the dash, so in real life you really won't touch it every day. However, go to an auto show and watch people get in the cars, and they spend their time touching and poking all over the interior, including places they wouldn't often touch while driving the car, like the dash. It is an initial sign of quality. Finally, Point 4 is the big one here. Just think about it - what is more likely to cause noise, something harder or something more similar to rubber? Rubber is isolating and cushioning. When stuff in the interior starts moving and hitting or rubbing against other parts, the soft plastic will absorb more vibrations, hence less noise. That is the big concern for the Camaro. Obviously time will tell if the plastic becomes a noise issue or not.

[rayhawk]

Originally Posted by stovt001

And the 2011 Mustang will counter further still, and in my opinion will retake the lead. GM can't up the power to compensate. The only solution is to lose weight, and apparently that is hard to do with the platform. Rock - GM - Hard Place. Hopefully they will find a way. While they're at it, a minor nip/tuck to the overhangs and a lowering of the belt line could nicely improve visibility and reduce perceived mass. Then again, by that point you're looking closer to a full redesign. At the very least, I hope for some decent seats - and by the way, I just reread the Motor Trend Camaro V6 vs Hyundai comparison, and they also mention that anyone under 250 lbs will slide around "in the esses." So it isn't just me! I really do want the V8, and the Camaro is gorgeous and so much more unique than the Mustang, but I'm just gonna need something that is more fun in the turns. Sigh...

Anyway, regarding gator's assessment of the shifter, in my opinion it isn't the size as much as the shape that is the problem It was not very comfortable. Of course, the simple solution is the Hurst shifter so I'm not letting that bother me at all.

I have to disagree with you there. The idea that GM is done with engine development and can't upgrade the car to stay ahead is silly. The mustang will gain some weight if they change to 6 speed transmissions and a bigger DOHC motor. If the mustang is ~200 lbs lighter than the Camaro at that point, the Camaro would only need about 30-40 more hp to stay ahead, or even a simple rear end gear change. GM could even pull a desperation move like Ford did and equip the car with an aftermarket style CAI from the factory, taking the Camaro to 440 hp off the showroom floor. It will certainly be a lot closer than Camaro fans would like, but the game is definitely not over if the 5.0L makes it.

[stovt001]

Sure, if there was no such thing as CAFE and concerns about fuel prices. More power is not feasible from a regulator standpoint. Sure physically it can easily be done, but in the interest of fuel economy weight reductions is the real answer.

[bballr4567]

Originally Posted by stovt001

Sure, if there was no such thing as CAFE and concerns about fuel prices. More power is not feasible from a regulator standpoint. Sure physically it can easily be done, but in the interest of fuel economy weight reductions is the real answer.

Exactly. Look at Audi's latest venture into making a car go fast. #1 Lose weight.

They even put an engine that was 100 HP less power in it and still ran 3 or 8 seconds (cant remember) faster around the Ring with it.

[Thrillz]

Good review from a normal person looking at it from a regular persons point of view.

[thebiz198]

IMO the mustang has a better interior, but the camaro is better overall.

[stovt001]

I'm still bouncing back and forth between which interior I like better. Like many other here, I am not a fan of the Camaro's gauges - they look cheap and aren't the easiest to read. There are a few other things I like better on the Mustang, especially the seats and material choice. There are also a few design elements I like better on the Mustang's interior. However, I still feel like sitting in the Camaro is much more of a special occasion. It just isn't any other car. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but that's the feeling I get.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by stovt001

I'm still bouncing back and forth between which interior I like better. Like many other here, I am not a fan of the Camaro's gauges - they look cheap and aren't the easiest to read. There are a few other things I like better on the Mustang, especially the seats and material choice. There are also a few design elements I like better on the Mustang's interior. However, I still feel like sitting in the Camaro is much more of a special occasion. It just isn't any other car. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but that's the feeling I get.

With a few exceptions, I agree. That's the one thing...above all else...that struck me square in the face. The Mustang is so...'normal'; incredibly well done, but still very status-quo. For folks with a low tolerance level, it will be easier to live with daily.

But for it's misgivings, the Camaro's insides are sooooo unique, and tastefully done imo, that is outwieghs most if not all complaints. It's special.

That said, if I was to grade them, now having been in both cars (miraculously...it's impossible to find an unsold Camaro around here)...I don't think I could. They're both 10/10's.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

This post is concerning the interior and driving experience of the Camaro. Not the performance...or the good looks, because we know how that goes already.

I had the distinct pleasure of taking the car out for a test drive today. A dealer actually used that V6 allocation like they were supposed to!!
(I also managed my way into a 2010 Mustang for Comparison's sake)

It was an IOM car...2LT auto.

Real quick -- I visited both cars within 5 minutes of each other. The Camaro looks no bigger in person to me than the Mustang. Blockier, more chisled and muscle-y? yeah...but not physically bigger by any strech.

Let's start with the Interior and all its glory...this catastrophic issue with material quality I keep reading about? Is absolutely baseless. That's about as blunt as I can be. Completely, 100% nonsense. The interior IS mostly plastic. But here's the thing....it's not 'cheap' plastic, by any means. This car utilizes very high-end plastics. Someone commented on it feeling like a basketball. I totally agree. There's a suppleness to the material that obliterates any notion of cheapness. Plus, this interior is ROCK-SOLID...nothing squeaks, nothing rattles, and there's such a robustness to it, I wonder if the panels aren't 1/2 inch thick...INCREDIBLE build quality.

You can certainly take issue with it being plastic at all. Please do; criticism breeds improvement, and there's room for it, as with anything. But stop calling it 'cheap', because it's a ridiculous allegation.........................

------Mustang side-note------
The 2010 Mustang Interior looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL in pictures. Just gorgeous. The backlit "MUSTANG" logo on the door sill looks wicked in those same pictures. And we're fed this story of supple "soft"-touch materials and "real aluminum".

Utterly and completely deceiving. The Mustang's interior is very nice in person. I haven't a complaint against it besides being too 'normal'...and that's simply personal taste. But "soft" touch dash? Are you kidding?!?! I thought it was made of the same stuff the Camaro is made of at first (same basketball feel). But you have to press so hard against it with your finger to get any notion of "soft"...I had a dimple in my thumb from doing it! So...unless you're face is slammed into it during a collision, there's no aesthetic, or feel-good advantage to this material at all, imo.

The lighting on the door sills, something I was actually excited to see....a gimmick, and nothing more -- I didn't notice they were on until the sales rep mentioned it as a selling point. (And it was cloudy and rainy at the time, so no comments here about being too sunny and bright...).

As for the rest of the interior...the seats and door panels (faux-leather as opposed to acrylic in the Camaro) were very, very good. Top-notch. But the plastics Ford used were decidedly below the quality of those in the Camaro.

Now...onto the seats.
"Not enough support"..."bad-quality leather".....WHAT?! From experience, now...I felt VERY LITTLE difference in support between the Camaro's seats and the Mustangs...VERY little. Advantage to the Mustang because they were a little stiffer. I'm 6'-0 and ~180 lbs....there was NO sliding -- and I was expecting...something. Everyone has a specific scenario...but complaints about these seats being unsupportive are, also, baseless imo. To be fair, if you're on the small side, you may experience some wiggling...but "sliding"? Hell no. I don't get it.

Finally, I constantly hear nasty comments about the car's outward visibility...B.S.....in bold, too: B.S. Frontward view is about the same in both cars. Low roofline, skinny windshield, and a big hood buldge robbing you of space in BOTH cars...

Side-to-side....I'm afraid I don't see the concern. To be fair, now -- I'm currently driving an '08 Cobalt sedan. When I turn my head roughly 30° in that car, there's a B-piller in my periferal vision, and I cannot see through the rear side window without moving in such a fashion that is dangerous on a public road.

It's the same situation in the Camaro. The door is longer...so I dare to say that driver's side visibility has actually improved for me. However, passenger side view is compromised, and the tiny rear quarter windows aren't of much use. Also, the rear window is on the small side compared to regular cars (and noticeably smaller than the Mustangs, though not by much).

Here's the thing that I feel most writers/commenters are misinterpreting...the experience IS very different from a normal car. The windows are not dangerously skinny as some suggest, but they are skinny. You'll need to get used to this, but visibility is not so terrible that it's difficult to drive. It took me ~1 minute to adjust mirrors and get familiar with the feeling. Visibility is mildly compromised, but NOT an issue AT ALL!!!

I'm sure to piss somebody off...but I finally got to experience these things for myself...and I had to comment. I feel there's some people (like me) that have been misled thanks to a constant smothering of extreme opinions.

My .02. Thanks for reading.

Well-said and informative.

[GatorBlue371]

The big pull for the Camaro is the exterior. No way around it.



The exterior of this car was built to evoke emotions of the ''good ole days'' while putting a contemporary spin on it. Dodge did something very similar with the Challenger, building a car that they made sure had all the looks on the outside.


As of late the mustang has been much of the same, a car built for the internals and exterior with the interior being what seemed like an after thought. Design it to look like the classics, and build it out of cheap materials. Well, they have been making quite a show out of the newer nicer one. After having been in all 3 cars interiors... multiple times... I can honestly say the SRT's has the best quality of Materials, the Camaro's (though abstract) is the best laid out... and the Mustang's is somewhere in the middle.


If the Camaro makes it to a Gen 6, which im sure it will, I would adress weight and interior. In bold letters. The only way these interiors look not half bad, is when you compare them to other American Cars. Compare the insides to Euro cars for the same dollar price and you'll see why people have issues.

[camero]

Originally Posted by GatorBlue371

If the Camaro makes it to a Gen 6, which im sure it will, I would adress weight and interior. In bold letters. The only way these interiors look not half bad, is when you compare them to other American Cars. Compare the insides to Euro cars for the same dollar price and you'll see why people have issues.

What European car that starts at $22,000 are you talking about? (You can't compare your 2SS to a European car that starts at $38,000 and tops out at $69,000) Yes, everyone would like a nicer interiour but seriously, it costs money and the big selling point of the Camaro was always going to be that it was going to be big bang for the buck. How much more would you like the next one to cost and GM can put it all into the interiour. Personally I spend the first three days looking at a new car's interiour and then start looking out the windows and never see it again. The fact that most people are impressed with the interiour shows that Chevy didn't cheap-out too much. I'd rather put my money on quality and speed and style etc. Just like GM did with the Camaro.